Dressed for himself: Boy loves pink and sparkles

C.J., 6, tells mom Lori Duron, "Not those (two) tiaras, this one." She places his jeweled, more subtle tiara on. On the South County mom's blog, Raising My Rainbow, the tagline used to be "adventures in raising a slightly effeminate, possibly gay, totally fabulous son." Today, two years later, it reads, "adventures in raising a fabulous, gender creative son," the tagline for Duron's recently published book.CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Lori Duron wore a royal blue dress for her appearance this week on the “Today” show.

Her 6-year-old son – the reason she was on national TV – might have chosen something more girlie.

C.J., who starts first grade next week, likes pink and purple, sequins and sparkles.

One part of the show's Tuesday segment was filmed in C.J.'s South County bedroom. The camera watched as the boy talked with his mother about his play clothes – he wanted to wear his “sassy” black skirt. The ensemble also included a sequined top, magenta leggings and zip-up, knee-high boots.

C.J. is gender nonconforming – the description his parents prefer and the one C.J. uses when talking about his attraction to colors, toys, clothes and other trappings that society says are for girls, not boys.

Duron and her husband, Matt, appeared on “Today” as part of a book tour, one of several such public discussions of the family's private life. The just-published book grew out of a blog Lori Duron has been writing for nearly three years about how her family has dealt with C.J.'s preferences.

Two years ago, the Register wrote a story about Duron's blog. At the time, Duron was careful to remain anonymous and shield the identities of C.J. and his older brother, Chase, 10. Those aren't their real names and Duron is a pen name. She also never posts photos showing their faces.

The Register agreed not to use their names to protect the children's privacy.

The book, “Raising My Rainbow: Adventures in Raising a Fabulous Gender Creative Son,” (Broadway Paperbacks, $15) has garnered 41/2 out of 5 stars on the Goodreads website and on Amazon, where it is a No. 1 best seller in the Gay & Lesbian Biographies & Memoirs category.

PUBLIC APPEARANCE

During the past year Duron and her family have stepped out of the shadows.

This week, her husband, Matt, a police officer in Orange County, sat by her side on the “Today” show, telling co-host Willie Geist, “This is not a choice for us. We are just letting our child be who he was born to be.”

The “Today” piece is the first public glimpse of Duron's sons, but their last names are not used. For this newspaper story, she asked that her family's hometown not be included and that her sons' faces not appear in photos.

Duron says she decided to come out in a bigger way with the book to serve as a more visible resource for parents who are raising their own C. J. s, and to educate others about them.

She adds that she's refused multiple offers to turn her family's life into a reality TV show.

“He isn't here for your entertainment,” Duron says. “But you can read about him for your education.”

C.J. and his brother (who wanted his mom to call him Boober Washington in print), have their own opinions about the book.

“We're pretty cool about it,” says Chase, who had to endure some bullying at school on behalf of his brother until his parents stepped in with an advocate and forced the school to intervene. “From a kid's point of view, it seems kind of amazing that one of your parents is writing a book.”

Says C.J.: “I can't read, so I don't know.”

PARENTING DEBATE

Besides traveling to New York City for “Today,” Duron was scheduled to visit Washington, D.C., on Thursday for an hourlong interview on National Public Radio and had essays published online by Time magazine and CNN.

The public reaction to the book has been the same as with her blog – no middle ground. That's reflected in the comments on the “Today” show website about the piece on C.J.

C.J., 6, tells mom Lori Duron, "Not those (two) tiaras, this one." She places his jeweled, more subtle tiara on. On the South County mom's blog, Raising My Rainbow, the tagline used to be "adventures in raising a slightly effeminate, possibly gay, totally fabulous son." Today, two years later, it reads, "adventures in raising a fabulous, gender creative son," the tagline for Duron's recently published book. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
C.J.'s toy box is filled with many Monster High fashion dolls. One Halloween, the "gender nonconforming" 6-year-old went as Frankie Stein, the doll who is said to be the daughter of Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. The South County youngster loves bright pinks and purples and his room reflects those vibrant colors. His preferences in toys and colors all started with a Barbie doll. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
C.J., 6, walks around his room in his butterfly cotton dress. Behind him is a storage container filled with dresses, many of which are flower girl dresses from weddings given to him by friends. His parents want him to be himself. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
C.J., 6, lies down for a moment on his fashionable Monster High bedspread after coming home from drama camp. Within seconds of walking into his room, C.J. notices that his dolls have been moved slightly and questions his mom about it. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
C.J., 6, who lives in south Orange County, holds one of many doll shoes in his bright pink and purple room. His mom, Lori Duron, writes the blog Raising My Rainbow. Duron has been doing many speaking engagements, including at the recent Pride gathering in Orange County. This past week, she was interview on the "Today" show about her new book based on the blog. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
C.J., 6, spontaneously hugs his mom, Lori Duron, at their home in south Orange County. Duron's older brother is gay and the two loved playing with Barbie dolls together when they were young. C.J. also loves playing with Barbies. Duron's brother, who announced he was gay as a grown man, applauds his sister's approach in raising C.J. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
C.J., 6, gets a closer look to see what's in a shopping bag. It was filled with belts that his mom told him were for her. She was figuring out what to wear for an appearance on the "Today" show. C.J. was recently in a fashion show at his home in south Orange County along with other "gender nonconforming" youngsters. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Colorful purses and backpacks hang on C.J.'s bed post. A Monster High poster hangs over his bed. C.J.'s uncle, who came out of the closet as a grown man, used to feel that whenever he was in a family photo, he made it "look ugly." C.J.'s parents want him to be himself. They call him "gender nonconforming." CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
C.J., 6, has his choice of many dresses, including flower girl outfits given to him by friends. However on this hot summer day, he chose a light cotton pink butterfly dress to change into after coming home from drama camp. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
South Orange County mom Lori Duron has a new book, "Raising My Rainbow," which has evolved from the blog of the same name. The subtitle reads, "Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son." Her son's bedroom slippers are next to her in his room. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
C.J., 6, didn't want to wear these tiaras. His mom placed a more subtle tiara on his head. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
C.J., 6, readjusts his tiara. Two years ago, he did not desire to dress up in girls' clothing. Today he has many dresses, many given to him by friends. He wears them only at home. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
When his mom picks him up from drama camp, C.J., 6, grabs a pink owl toy after hopping in the car. He holds the stuffed animal on the 10-minute drive home. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Lori Duron of south Orange County has written a book titled "Raising My Rainbow: Adventures in Raising a Fabulous Gender Creative Son." It was published this week by a subsidiary of Random House. CINDY YAMANAKA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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